Set in a barren moorland, Corgarff’s medieval tower house, built in the mid-16th century, is surrounded by a distinctive star-shaped perimeter wall of 18th century date.
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Its location – stunningly set in splendid isolation at the head of remote Strathdon.
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Through much of its history Corgarff has been of strategic importance, guarding the quickest route from Deeside to Speyside,
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Its location ensured that Corgarff Castle has had an eventful and sometimes tragic history.
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The castle is thought to have been built in about 1550 by John Forbes of Towie.
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The Forbes family were supporters of the cause of the future James VI in the years following the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots, in England. The Gordon family from Auchindoun near Dufftown were supporters of the claim of Mary to the Scottish throne.
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In November 1571 Adam Gordon of Auchindoun tried to capture Corgarff Castle. The Forbes menfolk were absent, but John Forbes' wife, Margaret, refused to surrender the castle and shot one of Gordon's men through the knee with a pistol. In response Adam Gordon piled kindling against the castle and burned it down, killing all within the castle except for Margaret Forbes who fled to Ireland where she give birth to John's son, Alexander. It is perhaps not surprising that the castle is believed to be haunted.
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In 1715 Corgarff once again played an important role in national events. John Erskine, 22nd Earl of Mar launched the Jacobite rising from Kildrummy Castle, further down Strathdon. He then came to Corgarff to assemble and equip his army before marching on to Braemar. After the 1715 rising had been defeated, Government forces yet again burned down Corgarff, and the Earl of Mar's estates were forfeited.
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Life in the barracks would have been comfortable in terms of 1748 expectations.
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The reconstructed barrackrooms – recreating something of the atmosphere of barrack life here in 1750, when redcoats from Pulteney’s 13th Foot were stationed here.
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Ahhhh yes, there had to be some whiskey available!
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Corgarff Castle passed into State care in 1961 and has in recent years been wonderfully restored by Historic Scotland.
